Prodigal

by Rektok Ross

It was supposed to be Lexy Quinn’s year.

The hard-working wallflower has finally landed the coveted spot as Editor of her school’s newspaper. Then the rug is ripped out from under her when she finds out her mom is sick, and the family is moving half-way across the country to Preston Hills, Texas. Lexy can’t think of a worse place to be than at a school full of snobby rich kids where she’ll have to start all over to get people to notice her writing, or–who is she kidding?—notice her at all.

When the most swoon-worthy boy in town, who also happens to be the jock celebrity quarterback, gives her an exclusive interview, Lexy’s life takes an unexpected turn. Ash Preston is the perfect guy and, even better, he sees Lexy as she wants to be seen. But can she trust him?

PRODIGAL is a different kind of love story, where faith, romance, and God converge . . . and it just might change the way you look at your life.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Teen

340 pages, ebook

First published January 29, 2013

About the author

Liani Kotcher (writing as Rektok Ross) is a trial attorney turned award-winning and bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer. An avid reader since childhood, Liani writes exactly the kind of books she loves to escape into herself: exciting thrillers with strong female leads, swoonworthy love interests, and life-changing moments. She graduated from the University of Florida School of Journalism and obtained her juris doctorate at the University of Miami School of Law. Originally from South Florida, she currently splits her time between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas with her husband, step kids, and her dogs. She is the recipient of several awards, including the American Fiction Awards, IAN Book of the Year Awards, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Chanticleer Dante Rossetti Book Awards, and Women Writing the West. Her debut young adult thriller Ski Weekend was named a “best book” of the year by Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Parade, BookRiot, Yahoo!Life, Brit + Co., BookTrib, J-14, and more and is currently in development for a major motion picture. You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.

You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.

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Reviews

[Lindsey Lynn (thepagemistress) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars!

Summary:
This book follows Lexy just as she is about to enter her senior year. But things get turned upside down. Her parents are making them move from Atlanta to Texas. Lexy is furious because she just got on the newspaper staff as editor and now that will be ripped out from underneath her. But there is a reason why they're moving and no one was prepared. Lexy and her family make it to Texas. Lexy is the 'new kid' and target of bullying. Can she find friends in her last year? And what will life be like since she's not on the paper?

Dislikes:
I personally didn't relate to all the religious aspects of it but that's just my personal belief. At some points it just felt like if I didn't believe in a 'god' than I wasn't meant to understand and comprehend the real meaning.

Likes:
The characters were fun and relate-able. Lexy was real and raw and emotional to a degree that anyone can understand. The side characters and setting made me feel like I was right back in high school with the fear and excitement. The writing was impeccable.

Overall:
I could not put this book down. Read it in less than 24 hours and would highly recommend this contemporary to anyone. Fast paced and light-hearted. Gives you hope to pursue your dreams.

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review was first up on For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)

I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I got in touch with the author, Ms. Ross on IG (yes I love that platform. It is now more than half of my social life :P) and she couldn't be anymore sweeter. When we were discussing the idea of me reading and reviewing her book, she was more worried about the fact that if the book would be a good fit form. Now as an individual human (highly debated! I still I am an alien) with some sort of working brain, actually understood where she is actually coming from. Not every book is for everyone. And why read something that is not up your valley. And that's exactly why I wanted to read this one. What's the point of being a bookworm if you didn't read something unusual? ;)

“It's just not that easy answer you want wrapped up in a pretty, little bow. Nothing real ever is, but that doesn't mean it's hopeless.”

Lexi Quinn is told by her parents that they are moving to Texas to start her senior year at a private school. Now this is a total life change for her, because finally she has the coveted position on the school newspaper. And leaving all that behind to start anew, to her, is basically destroying her life. But she has no choice. Her mother is suffering from Cancer and they need to move for a better treatment facility.

“People lie to themselves all the time. If they lie to themselves, how can you expect them not to lie to you?”

Lexi is my kind of heroine. She is down to earth, sweet, street smart, and loyal. She is also stubborn and ambitious. Reading the story in her POV, made me understand her a whole lot better and frankly, for the first time I was actually liked the first POV and that says a lot.

"You're really comparing hard science to religion?" "They both require faith until proven truthful"

Now Ash Preston is an enigma. He has the bad boy reputation of loving and leaving them behind. Now, the only way Lexi can get into the school newspaper is by interviewing Ash, who of course is as available as fictional characters are to us. He is a complex boy, with so many layers that even at the end, I had a feeling that even then we hadn't uncovered all of the layers.

"A God that's not safe because we can't control him or what he does to us, but good because he loves us no matter what?"

When Ms. Ross contacted me, she told me that most the foundation is in faith and in God for the plot. Now, I am more of believer in Karma. I do not believe that there is a higher entity that we are beholden to. I have seen many use God as an excuse for things that are inexcusable. So, while I was hesitant to actually read this book, I still worried that my own opinions would end up influencing my opinions.

But I was pleasantly surprised. Though there was focus given to faith and religion, it wasn't in the face or even preachy. What it was, was simple questions that got even me thinking, that made me question my beliefs and opinions.
And that is where this book is a success for me.

"Sometimes things get broken and stay that way, no matter how much you want to fix them"

Now, coming back to the story. I liked the writing style and the plot itself. The writing was perfectly in sync with the plot and the characters themselves. Best part though was the fact, that Ms. Ross never ended with a happily ever after. And that is quite commendable, because this is a YA Contemporary Romance and the characters will always be too young to have a Happily Ever After.

Now to the part I did not like. Lexi's mother suffers from Cancer, and this should have been more of an emotional blow to her than was portrayed, especially considering that she is more close to her mother than her father. Lexi even came of as selfish and too self - absorbed sometimes with a mother who is suffering from cancer.

While Lexi and Ash were actually perfect for each other, this relationship was again marred by the lack of communication (when will be these characters learn? :P). Especially considering the fact that when Lexi needed Ash, he wasn't there for her. Now that is just bad bad bad decision all around.

Even with these drawbacks, this is a beautiful debut by Ms. Ross. And for her, there is no where to go but up! <3

[Dear Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eyeroll fest.
Awkward pacing.
Dialogue after dialogue after dialogue.
Horrible love interest.
Clueless Mary Sue MC (who thinks she's plain but get told she's the prettiest thing ever)
Actually, everyone's a fucking Mary Sue.
It makes you cringe.
It made me cringe.
And I hate cringing.
I really do.
(Hoo hoo hoo)
A lot of "he/she was the prettiest/most beautiful person I've ever seen."
Unsure if I'll leave a complete review.
I'll leave this as it is for now.

[Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and more on Sab The Book Eater

Fun facts before reading my review:
1. I'm a religious person. I'm not overly zealous but I love my faith enough to keep practicing it until the day I die (bit dramatic there are we). Even if that's the case, I'm not the type who often reads books with religious undertones because I feel like some books can be a bit preachy.
2. I read this book from 7PM to 4AM STRAIGHT. I haven't done that. Ever.
3. I think Ash is such a great name for the male lead. It's perfect for him - beautiful with a bit of mystery. I was in love with him the moment I read that his name's Ash. Please let me find an Ash. LOL.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I was engrossed from beginning to end. I think the biggest reason why I enjoyed this book is the pacing. I love it when a book is able to cover a long span of time without hurting the quality of storytelling. I think Ross did a wonderful job at setting the pace for the book. The beginning alone was told in a pace that was just right, so I was able to get into the story faster. Some parts were told in detail while some were merely part of the narration, but still contributed to the overall flow of the story.

I also liked how real the characters felt - and that's also one of the reasons why I wasn't so bugged out by the religious aspect of the book. I can just imagine how the characters would say their lines if they were real people. Even Blythe's insults and snarky comments weren't over the top unlike in some stories. Everybody was believable.

Now let's talk about the protagonist: Lexy. She's smart but she's pretty clueless about boys. I mean, come on! Ash Preston is basically making time for you, and you know it's not just about the interview anymore, do you even wonder if he likes you? But that was case for the first half of the book. The rest of it - when she did realize that Ash had a thing for her - got more complicated and I don't want to spoil for you. Heh. Lexy's character may be a wallflower on the outside but inside, she's really something. She's a nerd who really goes after what she wants for her future and I really like that about her. It's very rare to read about female protagonists in a school setting who are more bent on getting her choice career track than getting the school's star player. I like that despite becoming a somebody in school, she didn't lose sight of who she really is - she remained a nerd I love that.

What I didn't like about her though is the way she handled her mother's illness. It kind of bothered me that she didn't react the way a normal person would if they'd find out one of their family members have cancer. She still went out a lot and it seemed like her love life troubled her more than her mom being sick. Eh?

I know some of you might get turned off by the religious aspect but trust me, it's not enough for this book to be characterized as religious fiction. Ross just made a few references to God and a parable (Prodigal Son) but it wasn't as if it was the central theme of the book. I think it's cool how Lexy was able to get a bit of clarity with the help of going to Church and reading about God and whatnot but it didn't instantly make her life better like magic. It just made her see things differently, and I think it's one of the most truthful things about religion in general.

And this is what I was saying earlier - the characters seemed real, so when they said stuff like, "Maybe God has a plan for you." it didn't feel preachy to me. I don't think it's because I'm religious and I'm surrounded by religious people so hearing lines like that is pretty normal to me. If it feels preachy, it feels preachy - in books and in real life. Prodigal wasn't like that. To me, it was Ross was able to incorporate religious references into the YA storyline smoothly.

The only thing I didn't like was the time it took for the Lexy-Ash issue to get resolved. At some point I felt so upset because of the conflict that I felt my heart beat uncontrollably like I'm the one experiencing it (dramatic much). For a reader to be affected like that, that's got to be great writing, right? Trouble was, the resolution happened in the last 3 percent of the book. I kept checking the location map on my Kindle app because I was starting to panic. I almost felt like they weren't getting a happily ever after but once they did, I felt really relieved and satisfied with how it turned out.

Overall, Prodigal is definitely a must read. It's refreshing, written beautifully with a great set of characters and a storyline that will get you hooked from the very first chapter till the end. Hey, any book that gets me reading for hours straight is surely great one!

For those of you wondering why on earth there's a sheep on the cover, here's my take on it: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Bible verse Ash writes on his palm during games, has many versions with the same theme of loss and redemption. One of which is the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Perhaps that's why they used a sheep on the cover. Thoughts?

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Lexy Quinn's senior year in Georgia. She is to be the editor of the school paper, and has plans to go on to be a journalist after graduation. Suddenly, her family is moving to Texas and she has to start all over in a new high school, with no friends, no school paper, lost in a sea of strangeness, feeling more than a little sorry for herself. To make things even worse, Lexy's mom is sick with cancer and she isn't close with either her father or her older brother.

When Lexy gets a chance to 'try out' for the school paper, she jumps on it, convincing the hottest guy around to let her interview him. Ash Preston seems almost perfect to Lexy, he even returns Lexy's feelings. Or does he? On again, off again, like a light switch, these two seem to either care deeply or back WAY off.

Throughout the story, there are several kids who try to help Lexy by telling about forgiveness, faith, things happening for a reason we cannot understand, but that God does.

Now, before you say, "Aha! A religious book!" Nope, this is a young adult romance, coming of age story where a teen learns to look beyond herself to grow. There is nothing preachy here, Lexy's friends are genuine in their faith, but not overpowering in this well-written YA read. I'm impressed with the author's ability to blend everything together seamlessly! Lexy is an amazing young woman who was just a little overwhelmed for a time, but learned to ask for help in learning to forgive and overcome obstacles in her path!

This ARC edition was provided by Ic13 Books and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review!

[Anusha Iyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came as a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to get hooked so quickly but within the first couple pages, Ross had me. There is just something about this story that is so addictive that I just needed to read more.

What was it that kept me reading? Here are some of the many answers:

1. Lexy

The main character is not the average teenager that one encounters in the popular vamp-books out today. Lexy is strong, willful and draws her own judgments when it concerns people, her future, her family, and even God. I could relate to her on many levels. Whatever decisions and sarcastic remarks Lexy came up with seemed very logical to me. I loved the change from the normal damsel-in-distress female leads that I had been reading.

2. ASH

I read this boy’s name and instantly Winter Prince Ash zoomed into my imagination. Ross’s use of Ash’s name was super strategic, since a lot of the readers would already picture him as the outrageously hot yet secluded type of boy. Not gonna lie, Ross’s Ash was just the same! He was a great male lead to read. Kudos, Ross!

3. The God touch

Yes folks, this book does have some spiritual aspects to it. Not quite as much to define this book as a Christian genre novel but it’s there. Many people will have different takes on Ross’s bold choice to incorporate Christianity into his story. I, personally, thought it was refreshing. It was new and original. After everything that Lexy has to go through, I enjoyed that she finds comfort and solace in spirituality. Ross did a very artistic job of executing the God touch as well…it wasn't too heavy nor too subtle…just right. I look forward to reading more of Ross’s books!

Now some of you are all like, “Is that 3 stars I see? Wait…yea 3! What gives man?”
There were some flaws to this book as well and here are the major ones:

1. Cancer [and I’m going to try super hard to exclude spoilers]

Having read the book I understand why Ross chose to include cancer in his story. The issue I had with it is that Lexy didn’t react the way most people would when they realize a close family member has cancer. Most of us would freak out first. Then we would try and spend as much time as possible with the person ailing. Lexy was the complete opposite. Her own social life and love life seemed more important to her than her close cancer-ridden family member. Sad face!

Furthermore, I don’t know much but from what I can deduce, you know, from Wikipedia, it’s kind of blatantly obvious that cancer/chemo have many symptoms/side effects in addition to hair loss. It especially bothered me that the family member riddled with this awful disease was perfectly fine and happy and was even working around the house while getting chemo. Come on, I know many readers watch Parenthood and therefore should sympathize with my argument. People with cancer and going through chemo are not happy people. This portrayal of cancer in this book was not OK.

I understand that Ross wanted to spare us the brutal details and didn't want this book to be about cancer. And I for one support that. But having chosen a disease like cancer, it is kind of an insult to not do it justice in a story this day in age.

2. Chick-lit side effect

I feel that I’m extra sensitive to this because I have been reading a bunch of these kinds of books lately but a lot of the time this book seemed like a He-said/She-said kind of story. It felt like I was reading a gossip column for the most part. Don’t get me wrong, this is chick-lit and I fully expect this, reading a book from this genre. But given the heavy subjects (God, cancer, losing loved ones) discussed throughout the book, I wanted a little more oomph.

3. Waddup with the Goat?

I think that’s a goat on the cover. I guess it could be a sheep or something…but its fo sho a farm animal. And I for one love goats, part of the reason I was attracted to this book. I was pumped to read a book with a potential goat in it (not even lying). It came as a surprise when I didn’t encounter one in the story. My only question is did I miss something? I don’t believe any of the characters mentioned a goat/sheep/farm animal throughout the story…so why is it on the cover? I’m personally not all that well acquainted with the Bible and I understand that I could’ve missed a biblical reference. If that’s the case…my apologies…please educate me by leaving a comment.



All in all, I think this book is a wonderful read. It is very quick and many readers will be surprised that it’s super hard to put down. I recommend this to all ages, near and far, short and tall, and everybody in between.
Lastly, my humble thank you to the author, Rektok Ross, for giving me an advanced copy to read and review! Happy Reading!!!!!

By the way, this review is also chilling at Rainbows and Books

[Teiamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an r2r that BLEW MY MIND!! "Oh My God" and "Wow" seem so insufficient!!

When I picked up this book, it was mainly because it sounded interesting and I enjoy writing honest reviews. Everything about it was unexpected. I didn't expect it to suck me in from page one. I didn't expect Lexy to be unattractive and beautiful as well as intelligent and clueless. I also didn't expect the religious overtones. Aside from angels, religion in novels...usually not my thing, but this book knocked my socks off!!

If you don't enjoy books with a religious aspect then this may not be for you. That being said, this book is not preachy but merely references several well known scripture passages from the Bible and ultimately, Lexy finding God is what helps her deal with all the challenges that she faces during this period in her life. But again, religion is not the primary focus of this story!

I thought this book was A-MAZ-ING! My first impression of Lexy? She's a quiet, mousy, wallflower with no outstanding qualities aside from her writing that make her stand out. She's forced to move to Texas at the start of her senior year in high school because her mother has some form of cancer in her blood and needs special treatment. With the move, she's forced to give up her spot as her high school newspaper's editor and thrust into a school full of beautiful rich kids. She tries to fade into the background but is singled out on day one by the Preston Hills princess and uber butch, Blythe Preston. Bad luck for Lexy, when all she wants is a coveted spot on the school's paper.

**MILD SPOILERS AHEAD**

In comes Ash, the very talented, super sexy all star quarterback of St. Andrews, and Blythe's brother. He immediately shows interest in Lexy and I can't figure it out. Why Lexy if she's so plain and washed out? Well, I finally realize a little past halfway through the book that everything I know about Lexy is based on her own perception of herself! She's actually quite lovely and smart to boot. That's why she has two incredible hotties vying for her attention.

Lexy faces issues with how she sees herself as well as trying to find her place in this new school and then all of a sudden her mom's health takes a turn for the worse. Lexy struggles to understand why certain things happen in her life and why tragedies befall others and that leads her to questions about faith (she was raised without religion). At the same time, Lexy's emotions are all over the place courtesy of Ash and his hot/cold tendencies. We later find out why Ash acts the way he does and boy does he have some baggage! My heart ached for Lexy and Ash but that didn't keep me from getting riled up on Lexy's behalf with the urge to stomp Ash in the balls! I loved the friends Lexy did make and how they try to help her understand through support and faith.

Ultimately I found the end to be very beautiful. It's not very often that I come across a book that has me reading into the wee hours of morning but I just couldn't put this one down. Fantastic, FANTASTIC book! I absolutely loved it!

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was simultaneously both the most heart-warming and most heart-wrenching novel that I have ever read. It is amazingly well written. There are descriptions beyond compare. At times I felt like I was holding the flower spoken of. This story manages to combine a will-they-won’t-they first love with one of the most catastrophic losses imaginable to create a high school experience that you feel you have lived not simply read about. There is a religious undercurrent throughout the entire story. Religion comes to the forefront of the story a few times, but never once does the author preach at the audience.

Ross has an amazingly well developed cast of characters. They talk like real people, they act like real people, and they feel like real people. None of the characters are one sided. They are so real that they literally bubble from the pages. They are individuals who could all hold their own in any novel. They intermingle in an ever changing environment of relationships, while holding on to and reforging budding and growing friendships.

This amazing cast is lead by a main character who is dealing with family issues and moving to a new school during her senior year. My heart goes out to her time and time again. Throughout the novel she has to make some very difficult decisions. She also grows as an individual and ends up doing what she believes in and what is best for her, rather than following the status quo. She simultaneously tries to fit in and to be herself after being transplanted into a whole new environment. While becoming more comfortable in her new situation her family faces one of the greatest losses imaginable: the loss of a loved one. All the while she is blossoming into a fuller, more confident, self sufficient person. She also faces her first love. It is love in its purest form, but it does not come without the trials and tribulations that accompany high school relationships.

This is a love story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys books that pick them up, make them rethink the status quo, or believe in the things that they have pushed to the side.

[Hope Anderson (HopelessBookAddict) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good just not for me. I didn’t relate to the religious stuff and didn’t like the start of part two iykyk

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was simultaneously both the most heart-warming and most heart-wrenching novel that I have ever read. It is amazingly well written. There are descriptions beyond compare. At times I felt like I was holding the flower spoken of. This story manages to combine a will-they-won’t-they first love with one of the most catastrophic losses imaginable to create a high school experience that you feel you have lived not simply read about. There is a religious undercurrent throughout the entire story. Religion comes to the forefront of the story a few times, but never once does the author preach at the audience.

Ross has an amazingly well developed cast of characters. They talk like real people, they act like real people, and they feel like real people. None of the characters are one sided. They are so real that they literally bubble from the pages. They are individuals who could all hold their own in any novel. They intermingle in an ever changing environment of relationships, while holding on to and reforging budding and growing friendships.

This amazing cast is lead by a main character who is dealing with family issues and moving to a new school during her senior year. My heart goes out to her time and time again. Throughout the novel she has to make some very difficult decisions. She also grows as an individual and ends up doing what she believes in and what is best for her, rather than following the status quo. She simultaneously tries to fit in and to be herself after being transplanted into a whole new environment. While becoming more comfortable in her new situation her family faces one of the greatest losses imaginable: the loss of a loved one. All the while she is blossoming into a fuller, more confident, self sufficient person. She also faces her first love. It is love in its purest form, but it does not come without the trials and tribulations that accompany high school relationships.

This is a love story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys books that pick them up, make them rethink the status quo, or believe in the things that they have pushed to the side.

[Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin, I want to say thank you to the author for giving me this review copy! But please also know this does not effect my review in any way :)

When I got contacted to review a book I was ecstatic! I love reading and reviewing and asking me to just makes me super, super happy for some reason! So Ms. Ross also sent me to a link to amazon where it was so I could read the description. I read it and the first thought that crossed my mind was Ok, sounding a bit cliche, but it looks interesting enough. And then I scrolled down to the reviews. I did not see one below a 3, and there was only 2 of the 3's!! That right there confirmed it. How could a book that looked like every other shy girl meets hot guy story have such a high rating? I was confused and curious.

I finished it in less than a day. And it's over 300 pages. I finished it in about 2-3 hours. A) My reading speed increased to match that of my skimming friends, though I read it all, or B) it was just that addictive. Now, I would like to say A just for the bragging rights, but I think the answer lies in B.

One thing I loved without a doubt in this book was Lexy. Our main girl is quite kick butt awesome :) She's pretty funny, and while she is annoying at some point, it's mainly because of the situation, which I don't hold against her.

Next would be Ash. I really did like him, but his mood swings gave me a bit of a headache. It doesn't happen all the time, but often enough to annoy me.

Kris and Peyton were pretty cool, and I though Peyton's sweet pushy ways were pretty hilarious ^_^


One thing that drove me nuts why the back and forth relationship between Lexi and Ash. And we weren't really given a good reason, which thoroughly bugged me. I think that was the only thing that annoyed me. Besides that the two are awesome.


The plot didn't feel like much outside of Lexi and Ash getting together, which is perfect if you are in the mood for a romance. It felt rushed, like it wanted to shove this story into a year and make it short even though a year is a looooong time.


I really enjoyed this book and once again like to thank the author for giving me a chance to read it!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am glad I took the time to read this book. The characters frustrated me and I wanted to scream sometimes. But in the end there were a few good messages to be learned. One, being not to quick to judge, and two, forgiveness.

This book is about Lexy. She finds out just before her senior year that her mom has cancer, and that they are moving to Texas so they are closer to treatments. She was going to be the editor for the school paper, and now those dreams are ruined and her new school has no room for her in any of the classes for the newspaper. Her struggle to still get involved in writing sends her on a journey of discovery. Her "in" is granted if she can get an interview with Ash Preston. He is a senior quarterback for another school. I guess the schools are not enemies. Anyway...the interview is not going as she plans, and she starts to fall for Ash despite his avoidance of the exclusive he promised her. But life is not easy for either of them and roadblocks are thrown in their way. A very rocky, misunderstood relationship ensues.

I found Lexy to be very stubborn, hot tempered, and sometimes clueless. But she did grow on me as her story progressed. She just drove me crazy with not listening to Ash, and running off with letting him explain. She learned a lot along the way and said it best when she told discovered, "The only person I can change is me."

And Ash. I really liked Ash. I knew there was more to him that just needed discovered. But he also upset me a few times, especially near the end. In the end he finally pulls through for himself and for Lexy.

I found this to be a great story with a message everyone can learn from. We not only need to forgive others, but also ourselves.

[Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prodigal is a YA Romance with a Christianity slant, written by Rektok Ross. I read this as a R2R with We ♥ YA Books! As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.

The Review:
Prodigal was a sweet read and I found it inspiring and lovely. I really liked the message and I liked the realistic circumstances the characters find themselves in. This book had a Christianity theme to it and though Lexy is encouraged to read the Bible and find God, it wasn’t preachy and it didn’t overpower the main story itself.

Lexy was easy to connect with and I liked her from the start. She was a typical teenager trying to stay grounded in difficult circumstances. Ash’s life had taken a catastrophic turn a few years before and he was dealing with the results of that. Both of their stories were heartbreaking. The romance between Lexy and Ash was sweet and they had amazing chemistry… when they weren’t at odds with one another.
I enjoyed reading the circle of friends Lexy makes at her new school. Even the class bully was realistic.

Complaints…
There’s only have one thing I want to address. I wish Ash’s story had been focused on more. He had a conflict he needed to overcome but the reader doesn’t get to see that side of his life. All we see is him being cruel to Lexy and we don’t really know why until much later in the story. By that point, I was on the fence of disliking him and thought his behavior hurtful and offensive. After having read the whole book, I understand what his reasons were, and he even finds redemption at the end, but that’s not clear in the beginning.

[Satcha Pretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Prodigal” takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions!

I read the entire book on a flight from New York to London over the Christmas break. At first I thought I would read a couple of chapters and then watch a movie, but I could not put it down for one second. The story was so enthralling that I didn’t even nap!

Although I am not the target audience of the writer, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the plot and travel back in time to my high school years. The author makes it easy for you to fall in love with the main character – Lexy - as she is imperfect in all the many ways we once were, and sometimes still are. I laughed, loved and even cried with the teenager.

Towards the middle of the book, the author - Rektok Ross - manages to take you on one heck of an emotional ride. When you least expect it, she hits you hard with a powerful curve ball that can only be compared to the hard knocks real life gives you from time to time. It was a bit embarrasing to have to wipe off the tears in the middle of my flight, but it was also delightful to be so moved by a book.

I highly recommend “Prodigal,” regardless of your age. You will be glued to it until the very end.

Prodigal

[Lola Standish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started I couldn't put it down. It was a brilliant book with story lines that kept me hooked! I literally cried, laughed and cringed! The only thing that let it down for me was the religious aspect of the book but this is just my personal opinion and I do think that others will understand this and even like the inclusion of faith. Lexi the main character is your typical heroine, she is unpopular, clumsy and does not have much self esteem but she does have a certain likability about her and you soon find yourself begging for everything to go her way. There are two love interests in this book but you just know which one she is going to get with even from the start of the book. All in all a brilliant read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received this book on an R2R basis.

Here is the link to my B&N Review:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prodi...

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really surprised by this book. I was expecting just a fun, typical "beach read" romance but this book was so much more. Prodigal is the story of a teenager, Lexy Quinn, who deals with typical problems -- she doesn't get along with her family well, her mom is sick, she is bullied in school by the "head cheerleader" and she falls for the "most popular guy in town." Yet this book, and Lexy, deal with all these problems in a truly original way and Ross writes the story in such a believable manner it all felt "real" to me in a way that other books these days haven't (think Twilight, Hunger Games, etc.). At the end, the book really made me think about my own beliefs in life and any book that can do that is a book worth reading and sharing with others. Get this book!

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure what to expect with this book, especially with a sheep on the cover. But don't let this cover fool you. This is a great read about faith, love and heartache. I really enjoyed the many character, though she cried a lot which is understandable. The only thing i kept wondering was when it was going to pick up more or when was she going to get a break and have a happy ending. Overall i really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend this book to my friends. This book is great for any age.

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore sheep. LOL I know what you are thinking. Sheep are sheep. But seriously, after you get to pet a lamb, you'll love sheep too. I have to admit that the first reason I even looked at this book is because there was a sheep on the cover. Boy am I glad that I followed my instinct and read the book. It was great. (By the way, no, I am not a sheep lady -- the sheep version of a cat lady. Just thought I'd clarify.)

Prodigal by Rektok Ross really caught me off guard. First of all, because it wasn't overly preachy. You know what I mean. When God becomes a figure in a novel or plays a part, it typically becomes some 'holier-than-thou-art' sort of novel. The fact that it wasn't that type of story really endeared me to it. This book is the story of Lexy Quinn when her world is turned upside down by the fact that her mother is diagnosed with cancer and they have to move to be closer to her doctor. Things only seem to be getting worse when she finds herself attending a school that seems to have a designer dress code. No one is the "normal" that Lexy is used to and her clothes seem to only make her stand out more. Going from the girl that no one noticed to the girl that everyone seems to talk to is hard for her to grasp. Little does she know that her journey has just begun.

Lexy is a very true to life main character. I don't know if I could be as forgiving as she is, especially towards her family who was constantly trying to shield her from how sick her mom is. Of course, I've never experienced a mother dying from cancer but I think my family would let me know just how bad everything might be. One thing I love about Lexy is the fact that she is willing to look beyond how much her mom is suffering or live her life because her mom asks her to. I can understand the guilt, the anger, the happiness, and the emptiness that she seems to experience. She is very relatable for me, although a little frustrating at times, and I think I would've handled exactly like she did. It's funny how much clearer everything is when you aren't the one experiencing it. I find it easy to get frustrated and I frequently grumble at the choices of the characters because I know that decisions can only lead to heartbreak or happiness. It's hard watching characters you love experience it too.

Dear Ash,
You suck.
Sincerely,
Bailee

I wish that was all that I had to say about the love interest of the story but that would be unfair of me to simply leave it at that. Ash, oh Ash, why must you be so beautifully frustrating? I can't decide whether to knee you or kiss you. Anyways... It's the complex characters that often become the greatest source of my hair pulling and he most certainly is complex. At first, he seems to be the guy that everyone hates and they bad mouth him behind his back. Or that's what you're supposed to think. It turns out that gossip sucks, people who are friends can suck, and the guy you like can suck too. Yup, that covers it. Ash is really a sweet, misunderstood, guilt ridden guy who deserves some happiness in his life. Who better to give it to him than Lexy, right? If only life was that easy. It seems like from the first time they "hang out", their relationship is doomed to fail. Lexy can't commit and Ash won't talk. Well, that's not true. He flirts. Which is swoon worthy by the way. If Ash would stop brooding, I would lock him away and keep him to myself. Seriously though, he is probably one of my favorites. He has a complex history, conflicting emotions, and definitely doesn't realize how much his actions hurt (that's where the kneeing comes into play). But he is so sweet and handsome, and smart and handsome, and smooth and handsome. You see where I am going right? Somedays I wish being smart ;) could cancel out all the stupid boy behavior.

Again, this is why these characters are very real to life.

We have a Duckie in this novel. If you don't know what a Duckie is, then go watch Pretty in Pink and basically all other John Hughes films. The Duckie, according to Bailee, is the wonderful Brian. He is friend-zoned from the beginning and he had no hope of truly getting the girl of his dreams. It's true that he doesn't give into the temptation of helping Lexy find her way into Ash's heart but rather keeps stoically appearing throughout the novel. I personally love Brian. He's attractive, nice (which is boring, by the way), and the only real friend Lexy has at the beginning of the novel. This is why he is friend-zoned. I love how naive Lexy is at the beginning of the story about men and how they work, sadly Brian fell victim to this innocence. But I still think he is a great friend and a worthwhile love interest, just not for the main character.

The story held backstabbing friends and I won't tell you who they are, hateful popular girls and you'll know by the second chapter, and strong family ties that can't be broken. This story is awesome. Go read it. It's not a preachy Christian novel that makes you slam the book shut and never touch it again. I adore it. It's a beautiful story. I'm saying that you should read because it's awesome, not because I'm trying to convert you to loving the Bible. I'm recommending this. So, check it out!

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 1/2 stars

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Green eyes!

[Debby Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

follow your heart

Enjoy this heartwarming story of opposites- high school friendships - love and loss, loyalty and betrayal - fear and courage - it’s all there in this YA story!

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Prodigal was a lovely surprise!! I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I knew from the title and the cute little sheep on the cover (from the Parable of the Lost Sheep) that this would be Christian fiction, but what I didn't know was that this is actually a really great YA contemporary romance as well. It was EXACTLY what I've been looking for - a Christian book that isn't preachy or cheesy and would appeal to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary romance!!

If you enjoy YA contemporary romance and aren't totally offended by Christian content, then this book is for you. Honestly, the Christian elements are definitely there, but they're not heavy-handed or at all preachy, so this book will appeal to a much broader audience.

The negatives:

Clichés.
This book does employ some of the typical YA clichés. The biggest offense is that Lexy is an "average" girl who moves to a new town and is suddenly pursued by all the cutest and most popular boys in school. To give Ross some credit, there is a bit of an explanation for this - Ash hopes that Lexy is a clean slate since he already has a reputation as being kind of a jerk with the local girls, and then Ash's attention helps capture the other guys' attention. A few other clichés were there as well (the mean girl who makes Lexy's life miserable, the fairy tale makeover), but I did find that most of these clichés had a bit of a twist to them that made them still interesting and I honestly loved the characters so much that it didn't bother me nearly as much as it would otherwise!

What I LOVED:

Lexy and Ash.
Considering that this was a romance, the most important element, of course, is the main characters and their connection. This is where Ross did a fantastic job!! I absolutely LOVED Ash and wanted nothing more than for Lexy to be with him forever and magically solve all of his deep-seated issues. Of course, it can't happen that easily or we wouldn't have a story, but I was 100% engaged in their romance and was really hoping things would work out for them in the end. I also loved that, while Lexy was definitely wrapped up in Ash, he wasn't the only interest in her life - her passion for journalism was refreshing and realistically portrayed and it made her a well-rounded character. Ash and Lexy did both have their flaws - Lexy's insecurities and Ash's fears almost made a relationship impossible (I was kind of baffled when Lexy didn't seem to get that Ash wanted her even after he'd kissed her passionately at a certain dance). But, I couldn't give up on them, even when they had seemingly given up on each other. In fact, I stayed up until 2 AM reading because I needed to know what happened with them!!

Christian message without being preachy.
This book was definitely a Christian novel at its heart. It references stories and verses from the Bible and follows Lexy as she explores God's presence in this world. But the Christian elements are spread out enough that the message isn't heavy-handed (it feels like a regular contemporary romance with Christian themes thrown in until toward the end when Lexy is really exploring it further). Also, the Christian characters in this book aren't preachy and they aren't pushy, so the book isn't either. I have to confess that, even though I'm Christian, I haven't read all that many Christian novels because the ones I have read have seemed so cheesy and preachy. This book didn't feel that way at all!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to fans of Christian fiction and to anyone who loves YA contemporary romance and doesn't mind a Christian theme. I will definitely be reading more of Ross's work in the future! 4/5 stars.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).


Wow...just wow! The feels in this book were just wow! Prodigal by Rektok Ross has definitely become my favorite book this year. In fact, it may've become my favorite book ever, seriously. I had my reservations about this book being as it is Christian fiction. Although I am Christian, I don't like books that are too preachy because it's like they are preachy to the choir. However, this book was not preachy but helped get the message across. It is just amazing!

The title didn't really give me much to go on. In fact, if I'm being honest, when I first heard of the book, the title didn't catch my attention at all.

The cover is definitely original; I'll give it that that. However, like the title it's a bit plain. However, the sheep can be a symbolism in Christianity. Prodigal also touches on the story of the Prodigal Son which is another reason I believe the sheep is on the cover.

The world building was fantastically done! Ross does a great job of portraying a non-believing teen. Ross also portrays the high school relationship drama very well. I actually felt like I was back in high school while reading this book.

The pacing was set superbly! This was one of those books that I didn't want to put down because I had to know what would happen next. Unfortunately, life got in the way sometimes, and I did have to put the book down, but I would pick it up as soon as I got a chance.

The plot was so sweet! Lexy moves to a new state which means a new school her senior year, meets the uber hot quarterback, and they fall in love. However, there's some problems which means their relationship does suffer. Along the way, Lexy finds God. As I've said before, this book isn't over the top preachy. It's not subtle when it comes to God, but it's not in your face either. Oh, there weren't any plot twists that I noticed, but that didn't affect the book.

The characters all felt very realistic to me. I started out not liking Lexy because I didn't like the way she treated and spoke to her mother. However, Lexy began to grow on me, and I soon felt what Lexy felt when it came to what all was going on around her. I also liked Ash. I like how Ross portrayed him as a typical Christian teen and not one who was overly religious. Ash also had his demons so to speak. I even liked Blythe even though she was the resident mean girl. There's no excuse as to why Blythe behaved the way she did, but towards the ending of the book, it's easier to understand why she's the way she is.

I enjoyed the dialogue and the writing in this book. Again, I want to stress that this book doesn't just focus on God and Christianity. If anything, that's more of a minor subplot. There's no real violence in this book and only one swear word (the word ass).

If there's only one book you'll ever pick up, I'd highly suggest Prodigal by Rektok Ross. This book was so much more than I was expecting and left me with so many feels! If I had enough money, I'd buy this book for friends, family, strangers, readers of my blog, and well, everyone really! This book has it all - a great cast of characters, a world that pulls the reader right in, a fantastic story line, and a great message!

I'd recommend this book to those aged 14+ who are believers of God, non-believers, those struggling with their faith, those that are new believers, and just everyone in general.


(I received a free paperback copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read for me, though nothing extraordinary. It had a good plot though in my opinion not the best writing style. For me it felt like the perfect read for a YA (Young Adult) beginner since it felt like a quick and easy read. I experienced it as easy to follow along in the story and easy on the details, though still having an interesting plot and character development.

"Dreams of witches on broomsticks with flowing chestnut locks danced in my head. True to his word, Cam and I met up the next day to …" (page 49, eBook) "I read them all and barely had time to even scratch the surface of all the sports websites and blogs" (page 50, eBook) I didn't enjoy the writing style that much since I felt like scenes like these two could have been more descriptive to make it more of a captivating read, but yet again, good for YA beginners.

I also felt as if the depth and detail in the writing style was lacking, for example on page 51:

"I put it all down. The good and the bad. Thoughts. Poems. Stories. Lyrics. Things that I've never dare share with anyone else. My fingers flew across the keyboard and the lump in my throat slowly disappeared. I forgot everything around me, living only for what was on the computer screen." (page 51, eBook) Even though I really really enjoyed this part of the story, it would have added that little extra if there would have been an example of what she had written in the book, etc.

I thought it was a kind of mediocre beginning, jumping straight into the plot. I believe I would have enjoyed it much more if it would have started with a normal day at her previous school, or if there would have been some flashback to her previous school life, to get to know her life better before Texas. I feel like that could have created a greater bond between the main character and reader, and make the reader more understandable what she was going through throughout the book.

I loved how the subject of God and Christianity showed and was presented throughout the book, as well as the references to it, without it being thrown in the readers face. This as well as the main-characters development was excellently written in the book. Great work, Rektok!

Something that I didn't like as much in the book was the way she handled her mother having cancer, I feel that the book could have put a lot of more focus into that subject to make the story a bit deeper and even more emotional than it was. Though, maybe this wasn't something the author wanted the book to focus on, since it after all is about the romance between Lexy and Ash, but for me it would have taken the book to the next level.

"… my mom usually took us to the public library. I was always a little sad when I had to return the books. Getting to buy one and knowing it was mine to keep was something special." (Page 130, eBook) Something else I liked about the book was that it had really good quotes here and there, such as this one as well as "People lie to themselves all the time. If they lie to themselves, how can you expect them not to lie to you?" (page 278, eBook).

I overall enjoyed the book, but I sadly can't say I loved it. It was a bit easy for me, and not as deep and descriptive as I'd like. But, I still gave it three out of five stars because I still enjoyed the story plot, character development and the book in general. It was a quick and not a very complicated read for me, even though it had a good plot and characters.

I would recommend this book to new readers to Young Adult who enjoys a good American love story.

[Jillian (Peapod Historical Bookery) · Rating 4 out of 5]

{ I was kindly provided an ebook version for free by the author. Review originally posted on my blog, PidginPea's Book Nook. }


I've been hearing good things about Prodigal, so when the author offered to let me read it, I jumped at the chance. And I'm so glad I did! Prodigal is a great story with a main character that is so relatable, I felt like I was reading about my own high school experience at some points.

In some ways, this is a very standard YA book, and I mean that in the best possible way. I mean that it will appeal to a lot of YA readers, and they'll see a lot of themselves in Lexy like I did. But at the same time, it's a very different sort of YA book, and I mean that in the best possible way too. I haven't read a lot of YA Christian fiction, but Prodigal made me want to go read more. Full disclosure: I am a Christian, but a lot of the Christian fiction I've read in the past (mostly adult Christian fiction) has pretty much bashed me over the head with religion to the point where I couldn't enjoy the story. Prodigal handles religion in a very meaningful way; it doesn't feel fake or forced or overdone. It feels real. It doesn't sugar coat things; it tackles a lot of the tough questions, like "if God is so good, why do bad things happen?" and "why does God put people through so much pain as part of His 'plan' for them?" And it acknowledges that sometimes we don't have the answers. Throughout Prodigal, Lexy starts to open up to the possibility of religion being a part of her life, and it's handled in a way that, at least in my opinion, all readers can enjoy, regardless of religious beliefs.

But this is only one part of Lexy's story. Lexy also deals with the usual issues that come with high school: making friends, extracurriculars, stressing over college, dealing with "mean girls"... but she has to face other issues that most other teenagers don't. She had to move to a new school her senior year. She wants to pursue a career that her dad doesn't approve of. And, worst of all, her mom has cancer. Lexy goes through a lot, but she grows a lot from it too, and I realized this along with Lexy as I read her story. And through it all there is Ash Preston. Sometimes Lexy is not sure where he stands - is he interested in her, or is he just a friend? Is he even a friend at all? A lot of the time I was not sure where Ash stood either, or how their relationship would turn out, but I kind of liked that I couldn't predict where it would go. There's a bit of love-at-first-sight, but there are also deep conversations about the future, secrets revealed, miscommunications, fights, break-ups, make-ups... It's a very realistic relationship that many readers (including this one) have had before and can definitely relate to.

I had a feeling I would like Prodigal, but I underestimated just how much I would like it. It handles romance and religion with a great balance. It balances happy and sad too, and real life and dreams. I'd pick up another Rektok Ross book in a heartbeat. Definitely recommended to romance readers who like a handsome hero with some secrets in his past, and very strongly recommended to readers who are Christians, are curious about becoming Christians but have some questions, or are just interested in Christianity itself.

[Miranda A. Uyeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very lovely read!

I enjoyed this book every step of the way. I've never really been much into YA genre, but Rektok is one of the two authors that recently turned into a raving fan with this book.

This is a story about a girl—Lexy—whose life was turned around by simply moving across states and changing schools in her final year. It wasn't hard to see that the laws that operated in her former life and environment were different than the ones in her new world, Texas. From being a girl who had only one friend to one who became part of the popular crowd, and the love interest of yes, the most popular guy in school, was something she didn't expect or seek, but it happened.
Sounds typical, doesn't it?

But no. There's nothing typical about this story. Not in my opinion.

Lexy's world consisted of drama, romance, friendships and fun activities, and amidst it all, each character had their own struggle. As it turns out, Ash and Blythe Preston, the most popular boy and girl at school, also brother and sister, were not whom they seemed to be. At least, not at first glance of the story. What they had to deal with was beyond what most teenagers can handle, and it made me understand their characters in the long run so much better, and even love them with their brokeness. I especially adored and applauded Blythe's maturity and care for her brother, even though she often hid it behind a rather nasty attitude. I found myself wishing everyone had a happy ending, but from the story I can understand why that couldn't be.

Aside from the lovely plot, characterization was splendid. You could see the personality of each character shining through. You got to know them better with each turn of a page, and the consistency was impressive.

I also love how Rektok tackled the ‘God’ factor questions, especially where Lexy was concerned. They weren’t complex at all, just simple enough to follow and comprehend. Also, it was good to see Rektok include Lexy's family issues and how they affected her life in general.

The theme was well tucked in, and clear—true love is real. You can't ignore it when it happens to you, you can't force it when you don't feel it for someone, and you can't forcefully demand it from anyone either. Also, God is real, and He cares about your welfare far more than you know. And if you're lost, He is definitely willing to find you.

I must admit though, I believe the book could have been better titled. I can see why the book was titled ‘Prodigal', but my overall feel of the book sought a title more poignant. The story explored the characters not from the perspective of children who had wandered away and come back to the arms of a loving God, but from the perspective of people with private/secret struggles who had to learn to let go of the past and love and forgive, despite the pain they'd inflicted on each other. This was the case in Lexy's crowd and in her family. The ‘Prodigal' factor therefore seemed more like the strong secondary bonus, than the main theme.

I have to say that Rektok Ross has successfully turned me into a fan of hers. I will definitely be looking out for more books by her.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a nice change from the usual coming of age/romance YA books. The author, Ross, knew that you can tell a wonderful, heartwarming love story without including sexual themes. This was the thing that I loved most about this book. Kudos to Ross for creating a book that is completely appropriate for all ages!
This story was has some of the most relateable characters that I have come across recently. Lexy is an average teen trying to find her place in the world when suddenly she discovers her mom has cancer and the family must move across the country for her to receive treatment. She is devastated because it is the beginning of her senior year and she had just been named the editor of her school paper, something she had been dreaming about for years. Like the typical teenager she is, she fights with her parents over the decision, throwing little temper tantrums and being obstinate. She worries about fitting in to a new school and trying to find a way on to the school paper. Right away she meets two wonderful guys who are also great characters. Brian is the all American boy, the sweet boy next store type, and is the Senior Class President. He helps Lexy find a place in the school and takes her in to his circle of friends. What girl hasn't dreamed of meeting a guy like this?! Then along comes Ash, the seemingly bad boy that everyone warns Lexy about. She is immediately drawn to him and she senses there is more to him then there seems. Again, what girl hasn't dreamed of meeting a guy like this?! The books is even complete with the witchy, queen of the school type of girl who immediately sets her sites on Lexy. So many great and endearing characters!
I also loved the subtle use of Christianity in the story; hence the title of Prodigal. It is not over the top religious, in fact Lexy is agnostic in the beginning, but uses some of the stories and verses in the Bible to lend to the story. The most important of which is the forgiveness that God has for everyone, including Ash, who is carrying a dark secret that threatens to destroy him.
There is only one thing about the book that I did not like. The use of a lamb on the cover seems like a very odd choice for me. I can't for the life of me figure out why they chose this cover. The only thing I can even remotely think of is that it is possibly representative of another name Christ is known by; The Lamb of God. Not sure if this is what they were thinking but it is my only idea. Please do not let the cover dissuade you from reading this book though!
If you get the chance I would highly recommend you read this book. I think it is a great choice for anyone that likes YA romance, especially a cleanly written one.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reaction:Wow...I'm speechless. If I could give 6 stars I would or maybe even 7. I started reading before bed saying I would just get it started. Needless to say its 9am and here I am. I need to get some sleep, but I will be back to write a proper review.

Review:I can't believe the effect this book had on me. I was just going to read a few chapters before bed and I ended up staying up all night/morning to finish it. The story sucks you in. It was totally heart warming and heart wrenching all at the same time. Lexy is such a wonderful character. Her family dynamics were intriguing to read about. Especially her relationship with her mom. I was rooting for her to get better so hard. It hit me like a ton of bricks when she died. I had to stop reading to let the tears subside.

I don't think I've been so emotionally invested in a book/character in a long time, maybe ever. Ross is a beautiful storyteller. She builds such rich and dynamic characters you can't help but love them, or hate them (read: Blythe). I felt every bit of emotion Lexy did as well as Ash. He was one of the most intriguing male leads I've read about in quite sometime. What he went through was horrendous and the fact he blames himself speaks volumes to why he acted the way he did. That's too much burden for one person to carry.

I'm not a religious person even though I grew up in the church. At first I was a little taken aback by the Christian undertones because I'm bit skeptical of it all. But the more I read the more I felt my own heart opening up and my mind was definitely opening up as well. The book is never preachy, which would have totally turned me off. But it does send a clear message about faith and how a relationship with God can enlighten you in so many ways. It still has my mind reeling.

I actually look forward to rereading this book. I enjoyed the story of Lexy so much. I also admire Ross for writing a coming of age story that wasn't rich with sexual undertones. As much as I enjoy the sexual undertones, being an adult and all, it's good to know the actual young adult readers can have something to turn to that isn't all about sex.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost their way in life and needs a reminder about having a little faith. You won't be disappointed.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: I am so in love with this jewel of a book. I'm extremely embarrassed to say that I was not expecting it to be so good. I'm completely speechless! I became so emotionally invested in this book and the characters There's something that really connected with me. It was like I was catching up with old friends. I seriously felt every emotion the characters felt. I read this book in about 4 hours without stopping. I finished at about 2 A.M. Monday morning. I could not stop, no matter how badly my eyes burned. But the story was so good! I only wish that the thing with the mom was detailed a little more. Like it was very abrupt, like that moment in movies where the DJ makes the sound with the turntable, and everything gets a little awkward. I suppose that was the point, though To catch you off guard. The love story was very cute. This book made me sad that I am single......Let's not talk about that. The only other thing I wasn't a fan of is the God thing. I am a Christian, for sure, but I don't really like to talk about it, you know? Like I know Gods there for me, but its not something I express. It's only for me and myself. It wasn't bad in this book, though It was kind of low key, which I liked. So all in all, I love this book and author and everything! Amazing! Just look at that cover! How cool! And the title! Very original!

Characters: Loved Brian. He was so sweet and excited, like a puppy dog. I also loved Ash for obvious reasons. Tall, dark, and mysterious. What could be better? I'm Team Ash by the way. Comment who's side you're on if you have read this. I really loved Lexy's parents too! Especially her mom!

Quotes:

“What if I'd been wrong all this time? I'd been so angry that God didn't fit the description I wanted him to fit.”

“It's just not that easy answer you want wrapped up in a pretty, little bow. Nothing real ever is, but that doesn't mean it's hopeless.”

“People lie to themselves all the time. If they lie to themselves, how can you expect them not to lie to you?”

Along with half of the whole book!

Recommend?: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I give it 100000000000/5 stars, but since "This input is not valid" I choose 5/5 stars. AH-MAZING book! Read it please! Team Ash all the way!

Salaam, Lived One Thousand Lives

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimately I would give this book a 4.5 stars
I loved the undeniable attraction between lexy and ash and how her determination to follow her dreams are not wavered by anyone even those who are so close to her and believe her dreams are just dreams and she needs to pursue a real career.

At first I was rooting for Brian and lexy considering how sweet he was to her even though she was the new girl and did not know anything about her ! But as the book progressed there was so much emotion and chemistry between lexy and ash there was no way you could want either of them to be with anybody else. That's why it was so frustrating that lexy dated Brian for a while ( whom in the end I wanted to be with Peyton even though you could tell that he still held a torch for lexy considering she undeniably didn't really reciprocate the feelings) knowing her feelings for ash and ash went out with kris (I know that she knew ash longer and loved him for years but come on going behind Lexys back to get the man you want is sooo out of order and if I was the one she did that to I would freeze her out of my life until, if I ever, could trust her again !!). It's like one of those moments when you know the characters are fictional but you want to be there to scream in there faces and shock them into realisation on how idiotic they are being !

Although the book and the love progressed fairly quickly, I loved how the female lead and the male lead connected straight away therefore forming and instantaneous bond. Which posed to be hard to be broken on some light but due to some major family situations understandably they strayed from each other.

Prodigal is a an amazing book that considering as been well constructed and the plot easy to follow unlike some others within the same genre !!! considering the audience of the book is probably around young adult - new adult i believe that it consisted many elements of which we can relate to as well as others that could be considered to be heart breaking. Prodigal has reawaken my love for contemporary romance and I cannot wait to read more from Rektok Ross !!!!